Cape Buffalo Bowhunting! - Short Film

The cape buffalo, one of Africa‘s most dangerous yet sought after game animals. Every year, thousands of hunters travel to the dark continent in pursuit of this remarkable animal. Even fewer choose to pursue this animal with a bow. To be successful on a hunt as difficult as this one, months of preparation and confidence in your equipment is needed. The morning of the hunt can be filled with a variety of emotions. Excitement, nervousness and the unknown. This is a dangerous hunt and things can go wrong. The hunt starts by loading into the truck and driving through the wilderness looking for fresh buffalo sign. Once the herd has been located a plan is put together on how to get within bow range. An important aspect of a buffalo hunt is having an experienced guide that knows buffalo and knows how to protect the hunter The Cape Buffalo has an excellent nose. A bad wind can end the hunt before it even starts. These buffalo caught a smell of something they didn’t like and moved back into the bush. With a good idea of where they were headed The guide made the decision to move around the buffalo and cut them off. This is no easy task; a herd of buffalo can cover ground in no time. Locating the herd again may take days. With the herd spotted again it’s time to make a move. This was a large herd with several nice bulls, it’s just a matter of having the right one in the right spot at the right time. With a mature bull in bow range they must wait for a shot opportunity. The bull turned broadside and an arrow was released hitting its mark. At the end of the trail lies a beautiful mature Cape buffalo. Without the proper equipment this hunt could have taken a different turn. When the shot was released there was an unseen branch in between the hunter and the Buffalo. A lighter arrow may have been deflected, and lethality lost. This highlights the importance of having the right equipment, spending endless hours practicing, and having confidence in your set-up. Africa is a magical place for bow hunters. The abundance of wild game, opportunity, and heart-pounding action is unrivaled in any other part of the world. Wild… Wonderful…Africa. Music: W1AAXVR4D5EXOKCM